Begonia plant named ‘Innbolwhi’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Begonia  plant named ‘Innbolwhi’, characterized by its compact and mounded to trailing plant habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; and numerous single flowers that are white in color.

Botanical designation: Begonia×tuberhybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Innbolwhi’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Begoniaplant, botanically known as Begonia×tuberhybrida and hereinafterreferred to by the name ‘Innbolwhi’.

The new Begonia plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Gensingen, Germany. The objective of thebreeding program was to develop new compact Begonia cultivars withattractive single flowers.

The new Begonia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in January, 2005 of Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Weiβ 1’, notpatented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection ofBegonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number B 04 19-1, not patented,as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Begonia was discovered andselected by the Inventor as a single plant from within the progeny ofthe stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment inGensingen, Germany in September, 2005.

Asexual reproduction of the new Begonia plant by vegetative cuttings ina controlled greenhouse environment in Gensingen, Germany since October,2005, has shown that the unique features of this new Begonia plant arestable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Begonia have not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature and light intensity,without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘Innbolwhi’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘Innbolwhi’ as a new and distinct cultivar ofBegonia:

-   -   1. Compact and mounded to trailing plant habit.    -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy growth habit.    -   3. Dark green-colored leaves.    -   4. Numerous single flowers that are white in color.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the female parent, ‘Weiβ1’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia have darker green-colored leaves        than plants of ‘Weiβ 1’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have single flowers whereas plants        of ‘Weiβ 1’ have double flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia differ from plants of the male parentselection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia are more freely branching than        plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia have smaller flowers than plants of        the male parent selection.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and the male parent selection        differ in flower color as plants of the male parent selection        have pink-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Begonia can also be compared to plants of theBegonia×tuberhybrida ‘Bonfire’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,108.In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Gensingen, Germany, plants ofthe new Begonia differed from plants of ‘Bonfire’ in the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Begonia were more compact and mounded than        plants of ‘Bonfire’.    -   2. Plants of the new Begonia were more freely branching and        denser than plants of ‘Bonfire’.    -   3. Plants of the new Begonia and ‘Bonfire’ differed in flower        color as plants of ‘Bonfire’ had orange-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Begonia, showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Begonia plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspectiveview of a typical flowering plant of ‘Innbolwhi’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typicalflowers and leaves of ‘Innbolwhi’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTIONS

Plants used for the aforementioned photographs and followingobservations and measurements were grown in Bonsall, Calif. inone-gallon containers and under commercial practice in a shadedpolyethylene-covered greenhouse during the late summer. During theproduction of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 35° C.,night temperatures ranged from 10° C. to 24° C. Plants used for thephotographs and the description were pinched one time and were twelveweeks from planting. In the following description, color references aremade to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition,except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Innbolwhi’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Begonia×tuberhybrida ‘Weiβ 1’, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of            Begonia×tuberhybrida identified as code number B 04 19-1,            not patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 7 to 10 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 9 to 14 days at            temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About four            weeks at temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About five            weeks at temperatures of about 18° C. to 24° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; white in color. Plants of            the new Begonia have not been observed to form tubers.        -   Rooting habit.—Moderate branching; moderately dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact and mounded to trailing            plant habit; freely branching with about seven to eight            branches per plant; dense and bushy growth habit; vigorous            growth habit.        -   Plant height.—About 23 cm.        -   Plant width.—About 23 cm by 29 cm.        -   Branch description.—Length: About 22 cm. Diameter: About            7 mm. Internode length: About 2.8 cm. Texture: Smooth,            glabrous. Color: Close to 195A.        -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:            About 9.6 cm. Width: About 3 cm. Shape: Lanceolate;            asymmetrical. Apex: Acute. Base: Oblique. Margin:            Bi-serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous. Venation pattern: Palmate; reticulate. Color:            Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 147A. Developing            leaves, lower surface: Close to 183C. Fully expanded leaves,            upper surface: Close to 147A; venation, close to 137A. Fully            expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 183B; venation,            close to 148A. Petiole length: About 1.5 cm. Petiole            diameter: About 2 mm. Petiole texture, upper and lower            surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color, upper surface:            Close to 185B. Petiole color, lower surface: Close to 199B.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flowering habit.—Actinomorphic single flowers; flowers            axillary in clusters of typically two; staminate and            pistillate flowers observed. Freely flowering habit with            about five to six flowers and flower buds per lateral            branch. Flowers drooping.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower continuously from            April to October in Germany. Flowers last about two to three            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Flower buds.—Shape: Elliptic. Length: About 2.9 cm.            Diameter: About 1 cm. Color: Close to 196C.        -   Flowers, staminate flowers.—Diameter: About 2.4 cm. Depth            (height): About 2.8 cm.        -   Flowers, pistillate flowers.—Diameter: About 4.4 cm. Depth            (height): About 4.2 cm.        -   Tepals, staminate flowers.—Quantity/arrangement: Four in a            single whorl. Length: About 1.5 cm to 2.8 cm. Width: About 7            mm to 10 mm. Shape: Elliptic to narrowly elliptic. Apex:            Acute. Base: Truncate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and            lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous; velvety. Color: When            opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 196D. Fully            opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155D.        -   Tepals, pistillate flowers.—Quantity/arrangement: Five in a            single whorl. Length: About 3 cm. Width: About 7 mm. Shape:            Elliptic to narrowly elliptic. Apex: Acute. Base: Truncate.            Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,            glabrous; velvety. Color: When opening, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to 196D. Fully opened, upper and lower            surfaces: Close to NN155D.        -   Flower bracts.—None observed.        -   Peduncles.—Angle: About 30° to 45° from the stem axis.            Length: About 0.7 cm to 2.6 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Color: Close to 195D.        -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens (present on staminate flowers            only): Quantity per flower: About 45. Filament length: About            1 mm. Filament color: Close to 145D. Anther shape: Oval.            Anther length: About 1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 145C.            Pollen amount: Sparse. Pollen color: Close to 1C. Pistils            (present on pistillate flowers only): Pistil length: About            2 cm. Stigmas per flower: Six. Stigma color: Close to 2A.            Style length: About 3.5 mm. Style color: Close to 1C. Ovary            color: Close to 145B.        -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been            observed.-   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Begonia not been observed    to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Begonia.-   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Begonia have been observed    to tolerate temperatures from about 5° C. to about 35° C.

1. A new and distinct Begonia plant named ‘Innbolwhi’ as illustrated anddescribed.